Robins Theatre
166 East Market Street,
Warren,
OH
44481
166 East Market Street,
Warren,
OH
44481
3 people
favorited this theater
The Robins Theatre in Warren, Ohio opened its doors on January 9, 1923. Designed by C. Howard Crane and I.J. Goldston and constructed by Charles Shutrump and Sons. Co of Youngstown, construction began in 1922 at a cost of $300,000.
The exterior is in the Italian Renaissance style, while the interior is in the Adam style. The interior boasts Vermont marble columns, grand staircases, an ornate cieling resembling the night sky, and large window- shaped grilles which once housed the pipes for the theatre’s organ. The orchestra floor seats 1,100, and the mezzanine seats 400, totalling 1,500 seats. The stage was once used for vaudeville productions, and could be converted from motion pictures to live theatre performances in 24 hours.
The Robins, along with several other area theatres, including the Ohio (former Duchess) [demolished] and the Daniel [converted into gym] were controlled by The Robins Theatre Enterprises Co. Daniel J. Robins was founder and president, in partnership with his brothers Ben and David Robins. Daniel Robins was an earlier partner of Abe Warner of Warner Brothers. David Robins was later to marry Ann Warner. Many famous personalities have appeared at the theatre over the years. The Brown Derby Cellar Bar and Restaurant was a once a local showplace for famous Big Bands.
The theatre remained in continuous operation fron 1923 to 1974, when its doors were permanently. The theatre remains almost completely original; however, thirty years of vacancy and disrepair have taken their toll, as is evident from peeling paint and crumbling plaster. Plans to completely renovate the theatre have been under discussion for several years. Preliminary plans are currently being made, however the renovation process is pending upon further funding.
Contributed by
Nathaniel A. Riggle
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Recent comments (view all 34 comments)
No, I don’t know Nathaniel A. Riggle. Google doesn’t find him, either.
Rob: We’ll let you know if a trip to Youngstown this summer with friends takes place as I really hope to see the Robins and that it’s future is bright. Warren is known for being the home of the Packard family thus the W.D. Packard Music Hall and Packard Museum so it should definitely have its restored Robins Theatre!
This is a C. Howard Crane, Architect building….Crane was an understudy of the great architect Albert Kahn…..he is credited with the Allen THeater in Cleveland and the recently purchased Liberty/Paramount THeater in Youngstown
“recently purchased” Liberty/Paramount Theatre in Youngstown? Who bought it?
I wish there was enough funds for packard music hall and the robins theater. packard is great for large venues as well as the new amphitheater on mahoning avenue, but wouldn’t it be great to see that robins theater marquee up in lights again on east market!!
I am 72 years old and can remember many grand times at the Robins or one of the other 4 theaters in Warren during my youth. It’s a shame Warren can come up with money for a Riverwalk (which i would be afraid to be on after dark), an Ampitheather which has been a total bust, and a Packard Auto Musuem which replace a swimming pool that the city could not longer aford to maintain but can maintain the musuem which is a year round situation. The glory that was once Warren is long gone and will never be replaced. I am glad I am as old as I am because I would not want to live and see what is going to happen to Warren in years to come. Zofko
This is a nice photo of the Robins Theater from the 1940s.
Another vintage photo of the Robins courtesy of Downtown Warren History.
View link
Here is another view circa 1950s:
http://tinyurl.com/y9c5j7m
The picture from kencmcintyre from 3/19/10 is likely from 1952 or 1953, judging from release dates of movies shown on the marquee.